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Taiwan has confirmed its first chikungunya fever case this year, linked to a major outbreak in southern China’s Guangdong province. The infected woman had traveled to Foshan, where over 8,000 cases have been reported recently, according to Xinhua.

The virus, spread by mosquitoes, causes fever, rash, and joint pain. The outbreak grew rapidly due to low immunity and heavy rains that helped mosquitoes breed. Chinese authorities have responded with strict measures, including fines and fogging.

Though cases in Foshan are now declining, Taiwan’s health agency has raised travel warnings for the region and advises travelers to stay cautious, Xinhua reported.

Five persons including three of a single family of Bardiya have gone missing in the flash flood in Uttarakhand, India a few days ago.

It is learnt that they had gone to work as laborers in Bankuda Village, Pauri district, Uttarakhand, India.

Mek Bahadur Gurung, spokesperson at the Madhuban Municipality, informed that Narendra Khadka (39) of Madhuban Municipality-6, Bardiya, his wife Saraswati Bhandari Khadka, and their two-year-old son Roman Khadka went missing in the flood.

Similarly, Amrita Pariyar, wife of Ramu Pariyar of Madhuban Municipality-5 and Subash Pariyar (20) of Sukumbasi Tole in Sangamvasti, Gulariya Municipality, have also gone missing in the flood.

According to a preliminary investigation, they had reached the Indian state through contractor Chitra Bahadur Paudel of Maduban Municipality-5.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has denounced recent US anti-migrant raids, pledging to protect Mexican nationals affected. Speaking at her daily press briefing, she said her government would assist compatriots facing detention or deportation, Xinhua reported.

Sheinbaum has strengthened Mexico’s consular network in the US, including support for citizens held at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center. Official data shows over 75,900 Mexicans were repatriated from the US between January 20 and August 1.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced a cabinet reshuffle as the country grapples with worsening violence in its eastern region. Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama said the new line-up, unveiled Friday, aims to ensure efficiency, credibility and regional balance.

The 54-member cabinet, only slightly smaller than the previous one, retains Judith Suminwa Tuluka as prime minister and includes opposition leader Adolphe Muzito as vice prime minister for the budget, according to Xinhua.

President Felix Tshisekedi had pledged earlier this year to form a “government of national unity” to help contain the decades-long conflict in the east, driven by ethnic tensions, militias and rebel groups such as the M23.

The US Air Force is blocking early retirement for transgender members with 15 to 18 years of service, forcing them out without retirement benefits, according to a recent memo. Those affected must either resign or be discharged with a lump-sum payment, according to BBC.

This move is part of the Trump administration’s transgender military ban, which critics say is unfair and discriminatory. Early retirement remains available for those with 18 to 20 years of service, but full benefits require 20 years.

Over 4,000 transgender troops serve in the military despite legal challenges and changing policies, BBC reported.

OpenAI has rolled out GPT-5, its most advanced AI model yet, now available to 700m ChatGPT users. CEO Sam Altman says it delivers “PhD-level” expertise in coding, writing, health, and finance, with a standout feature that can instantly build software from text prompts, according to BBC.

The launch comes as tech giants pour billions into AI infrastructure. Early reviewers say GPT-5 handles coding and complex problems well, though the jump from GPT-4 is smaller than past upgrades. It can’t learn on its own but uses extra computing power to think through tougher questions, aiming to make AI more capable and widely accessible.

A pilgrim died after falling off a cliff near Bisnepani in Bajura district on Thursday evening.

The deceased has been identified as Biplav Ojha (52) of Gokarneshwor Municipality-5 in Kathmandu, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Ikbal Hawari.

The incident took place when Ojha was returning to Nateshwori after visiting Badimalika.

DSP Hawari shared that the problem has surfaced to pull out the body from a gorge due to incessant rainfall.

Though preparations were made to bring a helicopter of the Nepali Army for the rescue, it has not been possible due to adverse weather, added police.

The country’s largest hydropower project being developed by the private sector has achieved financial closure. Times Energy Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Sahas Urja Ltd, has secured a Rs 52.5bn bank financing to build the Budhigandaki semi-reservoir hydropower project (341 MW) in Gorkha district. A consortium of 10 commercial banks and financial institutions led by Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB) is financing the project. Nabil Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Global IME Bank, Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Ltd (HIDCL), Machhapuchchhre Bank, Citizens International Bank, Nepal Infrastructure Bank, Prabhu Bank and Agricultural Development Bank are the other partners in the consortium. 

The project is expected to cost an estimated Rs 70bn. Of this, 75 percent, or Rs 52.5bn, will be financed through debt from the consortium, while the remaining 25 percent, or Rs 17.5bn, will come through equity investment from the promoters. Sahas Urja will contribute 51 percent of the equity investment amounting to around Rs 8.93bn.

According to Sahas Urja, the access road to the project site has already been completed and the process of distributing compensation for land required for the project is underway. Construction is scheduled to begin from early 2026. The company has already signed a power purchase agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). 

NEA will pay the company Rs 8.4-10.55 per unit in the dry season and Rs 4.80 per unit in the wet season. The license to develop the project was originally held by Times Energy promoted by entrepreneur Deepak Malhotra. The project got momentum after Sahas Urja, which owns the Solukhola hydropower project (86 MW), acquired Times Energy for around Rs 2bn about a year ago.

The project will be built on Budhigandaki river that flows through Chum Nubri and Dharche rural municipalities of Gorkha. The dam is located in Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality in the Manaslu Conservation Area. Other structures will be located outside the conservation area. Times Energy received the generation license from the Department of Electricity Development in Dec 2023.

Designed as a peaking run-of-river (PRoR) project, the project will have a reservoir capable of daily peaking for five hours. The underground powerhouse will have six vertical-axis Pelton turbines of 57 MW each. The project aims to begin commercial generation in 2030. The power generated by the project will be connected to the 400 kV Ratamate substation being built under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact.